A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Oslo for Families, Attractions, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Bern or Oslo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Bern or Oslo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Bern

Bern is a historic, charming, and beautiful city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Oslo

Oslo is a park-filled, green, and clean city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and museums.

Bern and Oslo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Oslo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Oslo than Bern, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Oslo is more popular for its big city activities, while Bern is known for its historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Oslo is more touristy than Bern and is known for its Viking history, its locally caught seafood, its maritime museums, and its access to winter sports. It is also home to The Royal Palace. Bern is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Bern different from Oslo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Oslo and Bern. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bern or Oslo?

Both Bern and Oslo have very good landmarks and museums for visitors.

Bern offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is filled with architecture and charming character. While you're in town make sure you visit the Einstein Museum, the Clock Tower, and the Bern Cathedral.

Many visitors head to Oslo specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Famous sights around town include the Akershus Fortress, the Folk Museum of Norway, and the Munch Museum.

Is the Food Better in Bern or Oslo? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at good restaurants in both Bern and Oslo.

Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

Oslo has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The city has a reputation of serving a lot of cured meats and potato dishes, but there is actually a good amount of variation available. Local favorites include smoked salmon, meatballs, and meat stews.

Is Bern or Oslo Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Oslo are good when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Bern. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Oslo. The city's high alcohol prices mean that many locals enjoy their drinks at home during pre-parties before heading out on the town. The atmosphere is usually laid-back and chill, with a diversity of entertainment venues that you can choose between.

Is Bern or Oslo Better for its Old Town?

Bern is notable for its historic old town. However, Oslo does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Bern to see the historical old town. The charming old town is filled with quaint alleys and sandstone buildings. It's a compact area that flows down a hill to the River Aare.

Oslo does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Oslo?

Bern is notable for shopping. However, Oslo is a mediocre city for its shopping opportunities.

Bern is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The old town is filled with boutique shops and unique markets. The main shopping streets are Spitalgasse and Marktgasse and popular items to buy include jewelry, art, and watches.

If you're looking to go shopping, Oslo has some nice offerings. The shopping that is available includes shopping malls and local boutique shops.

Is Bern or Oslo Better for Families?

Oslo is renowned for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Oslo is a very family-friendly destination. The city goes out of its way to integrate kid-friendly activities into everyday life. From playgrounds and parks to interactive museums and nearby amusement parks, this city is among the most kid-friendly around.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Bern is very family-friendly. This charming town has riverside parks and pools, a zoo, a waterpark, and kid-friendly museums that the whole family can enjoy. You can also visit nearby Gurten, a mountain with tobogganing, concerts, and a mini ski resort.

Is Bern or Oslo Better for Couples?

Bern is notable for romance. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Bern is a very popular place to visit for couples. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Oslo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You can explore castles, go on forest hikes, or enjoy a couple's massage.

Is Bern or Oslo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is notable for backpackers. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Bern. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

Oslo is a good city to visit for backpackers. Notoriously expensive, this city does have some hostels, but it can be a bit challenging for those on a budget. Because many backpackers avoid the area due to the costs, it can be challenging to meet other backpackers.

Is Bern or Oslo Better for Students?

Oslo is a well-known place for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Oslo is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The University of Oslo has an excellent reputation and welcomes many foreign students every year. The school does a lot to make sure international students feel at home here.

Bern is not popular with students.

Is Bern or Oslo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Oslo is renowned for its public transit. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Oslo has a great public transit system. The system includes buses, trams, undergrounds, local trains, and ferries.

The public transit in Bern can get you around easily. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Is Bern or Oslo a more walkable city?

Bern and Oslo both are very good when exploring on foot.

Bern is very walkable. It's fun to explore the old town on foot. It is compact enough to that you can see all of the highlights in a few hours.

Oslo is a very walkable city. The city has a number of traffic-free areas so it's fun to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Bern Worth Visiting? and Is Oslo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Oslo or Bern?

How long in Bern or Oslo?

In either Bern or Oslo, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Oslo than Bern because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 1-5 days is enough time in Oslo.

Families should spend more time in Oslo than Bern. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Oslo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Bern than Oslo. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bern that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bern than Oslo if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Bern.

One day in Bern or Oslo?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Bern. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Oslo is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Oslo?

Bern is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Oslo is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Bern or Oslo?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Bern. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Oslo is a clean big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Bern or Oslo?

The charming city of Bern offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

The park-filled city of Oslo offers museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Oslo, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Oslo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Oslo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Oslo and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bern than you might in Oslo.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bern Expensive? and Is Oslo Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bern or Oslo?

Oslo has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Oslo, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Bern or Oslo?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Bern or Oslo in the Summer?

Both Oslo and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Oslo in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Bern is a little warmer than Oslo in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Oslo fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite sunny in Oslo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Oslo during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Oslo receives 246 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives less rain than Oslo. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Oslo in the Autumn?

Both Oslo and Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Oslo for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Bern is much warmer than Oslo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Oslo averages at about 7°C (45°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets more sunshine than Oslo. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oslo receives 86 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Oslo. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Oslo in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Oslo. Most visitors come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Oslo because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Oslo can be very cold. Bern can be very cold during winter. In January, Bern is generally much warmer than Oslo. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Oslo fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Oslo during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Oslo receives 40 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives more rain than Oslo. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Oslo in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Oslo. The spring months attract visitors to Bern because of the natural beauty. Additionally, the activities around the city are the main draw to Oslo this time of year.

Bern is much warmer than Oslo in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Oslo fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets less sunshine than Oslo. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oslo receives 178 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in April than Oslo. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Oslo and Bern